Contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-06-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-15
Smart Images
Figure CZ2024050040_12122024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavityField of the Invention
[0001] The present invention generally relates to cooking and baking equipment and in particular to grilling equipment. Specifically, the invention relates to a grill for heat treatment of rolls before filling. The grill also has a calibrator function, so that the rolls after the heat treatment in the grill are standardized in terms of overall size and cavity size and are suitable for use in fully automated roll filling devices.Prior Art
[0002] A "hot dog" is a dish originating in the USA and consisting of a heated or grilled sausage that is placed in a roll, bun or baguette cut lengthwise. A sausage in a roll is a variant of the hot dog popular especially in Europe, where the sausage is inserted into the roll in such a way that the roll is not cut, but one tip is removed from it and an elongated cavity is punched into the rest of the roll with a toasting spike, and the sausage is inserted into the cavity. There are commercially available devices, both for fast food establishments and for home, which contain an electrically heated toasting spike.
[0003] The patent application US 3965808 A discloses an electric device with a toasting spike for heating or toasting the inner cavity in a roll or bun. The device comprises a base box that contains electrical and control elements, on the upper surface of which is placed a vertical spike, which is electrically heated and is shaped in accordance with the type of bakery product. Current devices are not significantly different; they usually contain more spikes or spikes of different shapes and sizes, depending on the use (household, fast food establishment). Such devices allow heating, or toasting, only the inside of the pastry, especially the roll.
[0004] Another popular food is baked sandwiches (made from sliced bread) or panini (made from other than sliced bread, e.g. baguette or ciabatta). There are a number of devices for toasting (grilling) these sandwiches and similar dishes - various "sandwich makers", "toasters", "waffle makers" and panini grills. All of these devices are essentially contact grills that have a base box or lower cover that supports the lower cooking element and an upper cover or lid that supports the upper cooking element. The surfaces of the grill bodies are shaped into a mould or contain a mould according to the purpose of the grill. The base box or the lower cover and the upper cover are movably connected by a joint, which allows the lower and upper halves of the mould to be spread when the grill is opened and a sandwich can be inserted.
[0005] A typical sandwich grill of the type described above is disclosed, for example, in international patent application WO 2005 / 037035 A1. Devices of this type enable heating or toasting only the outer surface of the bakery product.
[0006] An alternative to current types of fast food is offered by the device for filling rolls with semi-liquid filling disclosed in the Czech patent application PV 2022-311. The device enables filling of rolls with, for example, specially prepared traditional Czech dishes, in a fast, semi-automated or fully automated manner, suitable for fast food establishments. The rolls that can be used in this device need to be heat treated before filling, namely toast the inner wall of the cavity prepared for filling and also the outer surface of the roll. No device known in the art is capable of performing both operations simultaneously.
[0007] The aim of the invention was therefore to provide a device that combines a contact grill with a toasting spike and enables the preparation of a roll for filling with a semi-liquid filling in one operation.Summary of the Invention
[0008] The present invention provides a contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll (hereinafter also “grill”), which combines a contact grill with a toasting spike and enables in one operation the preparation of a roll for filling with a semi-liquid filling, possibly sausage, or other food. Toasting a roll refers to the heat treatment of a previously baked roll, when the surface of the roll is toasted / grilled and at the same time the inner surface of the cavity in the roll is toasted and the entire roll is heated. The grill is therefore particularly usable in combination with the device for filling rolls with semi-liquid filing disclosed in the Czech patent application PV 2022-311; however, its application can be much wider, since the bakery products (rolls) prepared in the grill according to the invention can be filled or otherwise modified independently on the device according to PV 2022-311.
[0009] In this application, a roll is a bakery product, possibly shaped in such a way that it is suitable for easy filling. The bakery product typically does not have the classic shape of a roll, but rather of a baguette, it is not bent but straight, it does not have pointed ends, but it has a foot , i.e. the first end, closed, approximately hemispherical in shape, and an open end, i.e. the second end, flat and with a cavity, i.e. terminated by a flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the product, and contains an elongated cavity (with a longitudinal axis identical to the longitudinal axis of the product) which is open to the surface of the other end. In a preferred embodiment, it is made from dough, the recipe of which has been adjusted so that the dough does not become soggy quickly after being filled with the semi-liquid filling. The product is adjusted, preferably already in the bakery, in such a way that it is calibrated in terms of weight and size (length and diameter) and is approximately circular in cross-section, the cross-section of the cavity being also circular. However, due to the impossibility of 100% uniformity of the dough rising and baking processes, it is not possible to achieve a completely uniform final bakery product that would be suitable for use in a fully automated device for filling rolls. In addition, significant deformations of bakery products occur during packaging and transport. Therefore, the contact grill with a toasting spike according to the present invention additionally fulfils the function of a calibrator, for which precisely shaped and dimensionally stable grilling plates creating a toasting / grilling form and a toasting spike are used. The roll after heat treatment / toasting and grilling according to the invention has a toasted outer surface and inner cavity surface, is fully heated and, in addition, has an exact outer and inner cavity dimension (especially the diameter).
[0010] The grill according to the invention comprises a lower stand, to which an upper frame is rotatably connected, and a central member is rotatably fixed between them. The stand comprises a base housing that supports the lower grilling plate, the upper frame supports the upper grilling plate. The base housing has two vertical supports at its distal end on the upper surface through which a shaft passes. The frame comprises arms that are connected on the proximal side by a handle. The arms can have a straight shape; preferably they have a shape with a slight S-shaped curvature. The handle is used to manipulate the frame (opening and closing the grill) and at the same time strengthens the frame structure. In one preferred embodiment, the entire frame is made as a single unit comprising parts corresponding to the arms and the handle.
[0011] The arms of the upper frame are mounted on the shaft outside the supports. The shaft can be one integral shaft that passes through the supports and the central member or it can be in the form of shorter sub-shafts separate for each of the supports. The frame is rotatably connected to the stand so that it can move between an open position (for inserting the roll) and a closed position (for toasting the roll). In the open position, the frame is approximately in a vertical position; preferably the arms form an angle greater than 90° with the front-rear edge of the stand, e.g. 95° to 105°; in the closed position, the frame lies horizontally. In a preferred embodiment, a pre-tensioned torsion spring is mounted on the shaft, the spring is adapted to help open the upper frame and rotate the central member with toasting spikes. The central member carries at least one toasting spike, preferably e.g. two spikes, three spikes or four spikes, protruding from the wall of the central member. The central member is rotatably connected to both the stand and the upper frame via a shaft so that it can move synchronously with the frame at least in part of the frame's travel path. For this purpose, the central member is provided with a synchronizing protrusion in one embodiment.
[0012] If the terms top, bottom, right, left, front, back, horizontal, vertical are used when describing the grill, it is assumed that what is being described is a grill that is placed on a horizontal base and with a panel with controls and a handle for opening facing the viewer.
[0013] The base housing is a box in the shape of a parallelogram (cuboid) made of, for example, sheet metal (stainless steel) or heat-resistant plastic, on the proximal (front) wall are located control elements (control knobs or buttons, control lights, indicators, displays). The lower grilling plate is located on the upper wall of the housing. The housing comprises electrical and electronic elements for connecting the grill to the power source and for connecting the heating elements in the lower grilling plate and the upper grilling plate and possibly in the toasting spikes (for regulating the temperature of the lower plate independently of the temperature of the upper plate, or for regulating the temperature of the spike independently of the temperatures of the plates, for setting the heating time), as well as regulator(s) (especially thermostat(s)) for their control, as well as an safety temperature fuse (destructive), which burns out in the event of damage to the thermostat and an unwanted increase in temperature, and the grill is thus disconnected from supply of electricity. The regulators are electrically connected to the control elements, which are preferably located on the front wall of the housing. The central member and the frame are electrically connected to the housing by means of electrical cables hidden in the support and arm of the frame; alternatively, the cables can be routed visibly from the back of the housing to the central member and to the upper grilling plate, preferably wrapped in metal protective hoses with mechanical and thermal protection. The lower grilling plate, the upper grilling plate and possibly the toasting spike(s) comprise heating elements and thermal sensors that are electrically connected to the regulator(s) in the housing.
[0014] In one embodiment, the lower grilling plate is a block made, for example, of cast iron (or of steel, aluminium, copper, i.e. always of a material the properties of which meet all the requirements for material coming into contact with food) comprising at least one, preferably two lower grilling cavities, which form the lower half of the mould for toasting and calibrating the outer shape of the roll.
[0015] The upper grilling plate is essentially the same as the lower plate and comprises at least one, preferably two upper grilling cavities, which are identical in shape to the grilling cavity (cavities) of the lower plate and form the upper half of the mould for toasting and calibrating the outer shape of the roll. Each of the cavities has the shape of half a cylinder, it is terminated at the proximal end by a hemispherical surface and it is open at the distal end.
[0016] In one embodiment, the lower grilling plate, unlike the upper grilling plate, has raised edges on the sides in the front-to-back direction, which ensure a precise fit of the upper grilling plate so that the lower and upper halves of the mould align and form a complete mould with an exact circular cross-section.
[0017] In another embodiment, the lower grilling plate is without raised edges, i.e. it is completely identical to the upper grilling plate, and the exact mutual aligning of the grilling plates is ensured by fixing the plates on the housing and in the frame.
[0018] In the bottom wall of the lower grilling plate opposite to the grilling cavities, there are recesses, or cavities, e.g. in the form of serpentine winding, in which heating elements (resistance coils and corresponding electric wires) are located. The lower grilling plate can be made as one piece or composed of several parts, e.g. a heating part firmly connected to the housing and a removably mounted mould part.
[0019] The upper grilling plate is a block preferably made of the same material as the lower grilling plate; in one embodiment it has a smaller width than the lower grilling plate, i.e. it is adapted so that its side walls fit between the edges of the lower grilling plate. In another preferred embodiment, the upper grilling plate is the same as the lower grilling plate, as mentioned above.
[0020] The upper grilling plate is equipped with a cover on the side opposite to the grilling cavities, which is used to safely cover the electrical installation in the upper grilling plate. In the wall of the grilling plate opposite to the grilling cavities, there are recesses or cavities, e.g. in the form of serpentine winding, in which heating elements (resistance coils and corresponding electric wires) are located. The upper grilling plate can be made as one piece or composed of several parts, e.g. a base part firmly connected to the frame and a removably mounted grilling part. The upper grilling plate comprises at least one, preferably two mounting holes in each side wall, which are used to attach the upper grilling plate to the arms of the frame using connecting links. The upper grilling plate is fixed to the arms (whether the arms are separate components of the frame or are an integral part of the frame manufactured as one piece) so that when folded into the closed position the grilling cavities of the upper grilling plate exactly align with the grilling cavities of the lower grilling plate to form a closed mould with a proximal hemispherical end and an open distal end. In one embodiment with two grilling cavities in one grilling plate, the moulds formed by the first pair of cavities and the second pair of cavities are identical. In another embodiment, the first pair of grilling cavities can be dimensionally different from the second pair of grilling cavities (each of the moulds would be intended for a different size of roll or for a differently shaped baked product).
[0021] Both the lower grilling plate and the upper grilling plate are heated by a heating element, e.g. a resistance coil or printed heating elements, in case of a grill for two rolls with an input of 1000 W to 2000 W, preferably approximately 1500 W or approximately 1300 W. The heating elements must be powerful so that they can ensure the temperature of the mould, or cavity surface of approximately 220°C to 270°C, preferably approximately 250°C.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the inner walls of the cylindrical wall of the cavities are grooved (provided) with grooves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The grooves have an aesthetic function; in particular, they leave a "hot grill grid" structure on the surface of the toasted roll, which increases the attractiveness of the final product for consumers.
[0023] The preferred shape of the grooves in the cavity walls is circular; the depth depends on the size and type of pastry, e.g. 1 to 4 mm, preferably approximately 2 mm. In other embodiments, the grooves may be of a different shape, or may be absent, and the surface may be smooth. The hemispherical inner surface is preferably smooth; in another embodiment the hemispherical inner surface can be structurally adjusted. In a preferred embodiment, the entire inner surface of the cavities is coated with a non-stick layer such as Teflon or granite or another material that prevents sticking.
[0024] In yet another embodiment, the lower and upper grilling plates comprise at least two sandwich-arranged parts, namely a heating part containing heating elements and a mould part containing cavities for creating a mould. The mould part is removably connected to the heating part. To maintain the grill, the mould part can be easily removed and washed.
[0025] The dimensions of the cavities or moulds are adapted to a certain specific roll, as it is delivered from the bakery. The diameter of the cylindrical part of the mould is smaller than the diameter of the delivered roll, e.g. the diameter of the mould represents 85% to 95% of the diameter of the roll.
[0026] The grill is opened by lifting the frame from the closed position to the open position using the handle. In a preferred embodiment, a pre-tensioned torsion spring is mounted on the shaft, on which the upper frame is rotatably fixed, the spring helping with the opening of the upper frame and the rotation of the central member with the toasting spikes. The torsion spring is mechanically fixed to the shaft, for example with a screw or pin. In the open position, the frame is preferably tilted by 105° or more, which prevents self-closing, so no other fixation is needed. In another preferred embodiment, the frame can be fixed. At least one of the arms of the frame in such an embodiment is equipped with a fixing protrusion, which, when the frame reaches the open position, rests on a stop fixed on the support, which defines the open position of the grill for inserting / removing the roll. The protrusion and stop form a spring latch that locks the frame in the open position, so it cannot automatically fold down to the closed position, and a certain force needs to be overcome to fold it down to the closed position. This increases the operational safety of the device. A number of other technical solutions known to the expert from the state of the art can be used to fix the grill frame in the open position.
[0027] The central member is made up of a carrier on which at least one toasting spike is firmly located. The carrier has the shape of a prism, where at least one cylindrical-shaped toasting spike with a tip protrudes from one wall towards the inside of the grill. The toasting spike has the shape of a cylinder terminated at the proximal end with a tip, i.e. a conical surface; it is made, for example, of sheet metal, of food-grade stainless steel or of copper or aluminium sheet metal, or it is lathed from bar material and provided with a cavity for the heating element.
[0028] Closer to the distal end of the spike there is a short conical extension limited by a ring stop (to define the end position of the roll inserted on the toasting spike). The toasting spike toasts and calibrates the cavity inside the roll. The conical extension creates an enlarged mouth of the cavity in the roll (facilitates filling), and the stop serves to define the end position of the roll placed on the toasting spike and thus also the depth of the cavity in the roll. The diameter of the toasting spike is slightly larger than the diameter of the cavity in the roll as delivered from the bakery, for example 110% to 130% of the diameter of the cavity in the roll. In a preferred embodiment, the central member comprises two toasting spikes; in another embodiment it may comprise three, four or even more toasting spikes. In one embodiment with multiple toasting spikes, the toasting spikes are identical; in another embodiment, the toasting spikes may differ in size (each of the toasting spikes would be intended for a different size of the roll).
[0029] In one preferred embodiment, the toasting spike is heated by a heating element, e.g. a resistance coil or a heating cartridge, e.g. with a power input of 200 W to 300 W, preferably approximately 250 W. The power must be such that the surface temperature of the spike is approximately in the range from 180 °C to 270°C, preferably around 250°C. In another preferred embodiment, the toasting spike does not comprise any heating element and the heat produced by the grilling plates is used to heat the toasting spike. In such an embodiment, the toasting spike reaches the temperature suitable for toasting the cavity approximately 10 minutes to 30 minutes after switching on the grilling plates.
[0030] The surface of the toasting spike can be provided with a non-stick layer of Teflon type or granite type or other material that prevents sticking. In another embodiment, the surface of the toasting spike can be grooved similarly to the grilling cavity. In another embodiment, the toasting spike can be made of two parts, a central heating part (core) and a surface part (sheath), wherein the central part comprises the heating element and is firmly connected to the carrier and the surface part that comes into contact with the cavity in the roll, is removably mounted on the central part. This arrangement is convenient for easy cleaning of the grill.
[0031] The carrier bearing the toasting spike(s) is mounted on the shaft between the supports and fixed in such a way that it can be moved between a horizontal position and an inclined position synchronously with the movement of the frame. The toasting spike(s) are fixed on the carrier so that when the frame is in the closed position, the spike(s) lie in a horizontal position, in the longitudinal direction exactly in the longitudinal axis of the mould formed by the respective grilling cavities of the grilling plates, and when the frame is in the open position, the spike(s) protrude into the space in an inclined position between the lower grilling plate and the upper grilling plate, i.e. approximately at an angle of 30° to 60°, preferably approximately 45° relative to the base housing, or the lower grilling plate. The carrier comprises a hook-shaped synchronizing protrusion protruding from one wall of the carrier so that when the grill is opened, it engages the edge of the upper grilling plate and causes the carrier with the spike(s) to rotate. When the frame is lifted, the synchronizing protrusion engages, at a position where the arm of the frame makes an angle of approximately 30° to 60° with the upper longitudinal edge of the housing, preferably approximately 45°, with the edge of the upper grilling plate and, synchronized with the further lifting of the frame, begins to rotate the carrier and lift the spike from a horizontal position to an inclined position (which corresponds to the open position of the frame), when the longitudinal axis of the spike forms an angle of approximately 45° with the upper longitudinal edge of the housing. The rotation of the central member of the grill and the coordination with the rotation of the grill frame can also be ensured by other technical means known to an expert from the state of the art.
[0032] The shaft on which the frame and central member rotate may be a single solid shaft passing through the frame arms, supports and carrier, or may be replaced by two or more shorter sub-shafts for the right support and left support. In a preferred embodiment, a pre-tensioned torsion spring is mounted on the shaft and mechanically fixed, for example with a screw, the spring helping the central member with the toasting spikes to rotate when the upper frame is opened.
[0033] The present invention therefore relates to a contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity, which grill comprises a lower stand, an upper frame and a central member, where the lower stand comprises a base housing bearing a lower grilling plate, comprising at least one lower grilling cavity, which forms a half of a mould for toasting and calibrating the outside of the roll; the upper frame comprises arms connected by a handle and bears an upper grilling plate comprising at least one upper grilling cavity, which forms a half of a mould for toasting and calibrating the outside of the roll, and the upper frame is rotatably connected with the stand so that it can assume a closed position and an open position between which it can move freely, while if the frame is in a closed position, the lower grilling cavity fits the upper grilling cavity and creates a complete mould for toasting and calibrating the outside of the roll; the central member comprises a carrier, on which is firmly seated at least one cylindrical toasting spike for toasting and calibrating the cavity of the roll, and the carrier is rotatably connected with the stand and the upper frame so that the toasting spike can take a horizontal position for toasting and an inclined position for inserting a roll; while the lower grilling plate and the upper grilling plate comprise a heating element and optionally a temperature sensor and the base housing comprises electrical components for connecting the grill and heating elements to a power source and at least one controller for controlling the heating elements.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the grill, the upper frame and the central member are rotatably connected to the stand so that the movement of the central member is synchronized with part of the path of movement of the frame, so that when the frame is in a closed position, the toasting spike is in a horizontal position for toasting the cavity of the roll, where the longitudinal axis of the toasting spike lies in the longitudinal axis of the mould, and if the frame is in an open position for inserting the roll, the carrier is in a position where the toasting spike is in an inclined position in the space between the lower grilling plate and the upper grilling plate allowing the roll to be inserted by the cavity to the toasting spike.
[0035] The base housing of the grill has two vertical supports at its distal end on the upper surface through which a shaft passes, on which a central member is mounted between the supports and a frame is mounted outside the supports via arms, wherein the shaft can be replaced by two or more shorter sub-shafts.
[0036] A pre-tensioned torsion spring is mounted on the shaft, the spring being mechanically attached to the shaft and adapted to assist the opening of the upper frame and the rotation of the central member.
[0037] In another preferred embodiment of the grill, each of the grilling cavities has the shape of half a hollow cylinder closed at one end with a hemispherical surface and open at the other end, preferably the cylindrical wall of the grilling cavity is provided with grooves.
[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the toasting spike has the shape of a cylinder terminated at the proximal end by a tip formed by a conical surface, where closer to the distal end of the spike there is a short transitional conical section bounded distally by a ring stop. In another preferred embodiment, the toasting spike contains a heating element.
[0039] In yet another preferred embodiment, the carrier has a hook-like synchronizing protrusion for synchronizing the movement of the central member with part of the frame's travel path, the protrusion being located on the carrier in such a way that when the frame is lifted from the closed position to the open position, the protrusion engages approximately halfway through the frame's travel path with the edge of the upper grilling plate and causes the carrier with at least one toasting spike to rotate so that by moving the frame to the open position, the spike moves from a horizontal position for toasting to an inclined position for inserting a roll.
[0040] In yet another embodiment, at least one arm is provided with a fixing protrusion and at least one support is provided with a stopping plate, wherein the protrusion and the plate form a safety latch, and when the frame is in the open position, the fixing protrusion engages with the stopping plate and secures the open position frame against spontaneous movement into the closed position.
[0041] Advantageously, the present invention relates to a grill wherein the frame is made as a single unit including parts corresponding to the arms and the handle.
[0042] The preferred embodiments mentioned in the description can be combined as desired. A preferred embodiment of the grill is further described in detail in the following non-limiting example and explained with the help of the attached drawings.Clarification of Drawings
[0043] : Axonometric diagram of the contact grill in the open position.
[0044] : Diagram of the upper grilling plate - top view.
[0045] : Diagram of the upper grilling plate - cross section
[0046] : Axonometric diagram of the upper grilling plate.
[0047] : Axonometric diagram of the contact grill in the closed position.
[0048] : Schematic representation of the view into the interior of the grill when the upper grilling plate is removed.
[0049] : Schematic representation of the cross-section of the stand of the contact grill, the lower and upper grilling plates.
[0050] : Axonometric diagram of an alternative embodiment of the contact grill in the open position - front view from the right.
[0051] : Axonometric diagram of an alternative embodiment of the contact grill in the open position - front view from the right.Examples of Embodiments of the Invention
[0052] A preferred embodiment of the contact grill according to the invention in an open position is shown in. It comprises a lower stand1, to which an upper frame2is rotatably connected, and between them a central member3is rotatably connected. The stand1comprises a base housing4, bearing a lower grilling plate5. The upper frame2bears the upper grilling plate6. The base housing4has at its distal end at its upper surface two vertical supports7,7´, through which a shaft8passes. Arms9,9´of the upper frame2are fixed to the shaft8fixed outside the supports7,7´. The shaft8may be one solid shaft that passes through the supports7,7´and the central member3or it can be in the form of shorter sub-shafts separately for the first support7and the second support7´. In an alternative embodiment (see), a pre-tensioned torsion spring8.1may be mounted on the shaft8, to which the upper frame2is rotatably mounted, the spring8.1helping to open the upper frame2and rotate the central member3. The spring8.1is mounted to the shaft8by means of a screw or pin.
[0053] The frame2is formed by arms9,9´and a handle10at the proximal end, the handle10connecting the arms9,9´. In an alternative embodiment (see), the frame2, i.e. the arms9,9´and the handle10, is manufactured as a single unit from a metal profile, preferably a stainless steel profile. The handle10serves to manipulate the frame2(opening and closing of the grill) and simultaneously strengthens the construction of the frame2. The central member3bears toasting spikes11,12. The frame2is rotatably mounted to the stand1so that it can move between an open position () for inserting the roll and a closed position () for toasting the roll. The central member3is rotatably mounted to the stand1so that it can move at least partially synchronously with the frame2so that the toasting spikes11,12move between the horizontal position (the frame2being in a closed position) and the inclined position (frame2being in an open position).
[0054] The base housing4is a box in the shape of a parallelogram (block) made of sheet metal (stainless steel), on its proximal (front) wall are located control elements (control knobs or buttons, control lights, indicators, displays). On the upper wall of the housing4, the lower grilling plate5is located. The housing4comprises electrical and electronic elements for connecting the grill to the power source and for connecting the heating elements in the lower grilling plate5and the upper grilling plate6and optionally in the toasting spikes11,12and regulators for controlling them (regulation of temperature of the spikes11,12independently from temperatures of the plates5,6, independent temperatures of the lower plate5and the upper plate6and setting the heating time). It also contains a safety temperature fuse (destructive), which will blow out in the event of damage to the thermostat and an unwanted increase in temperature, thus disconnecting the grill from the electricity supply. The regulators are electrically connected to the control elements on the front wall of the housing4.The central member3and the frame2are electrically connected with the housing4by means of electrical cables hidden in the support7,7´and arm9,9´of the frame2(alternatively, the cables are routed externally from the back of the housing4into the member3and the upper grilling plate6). The lower plate5, the upper plate6and optionally the toasting spike11,12comprise temperature sensors electrically connected with the regulator(s) in the housing4.
[0055] In this embodiment, the lower grilling plate5is a block made of cast iron comprising two grilling cavities5.1,5.2, which form lower halves of the mould for toasting and calibrating the outer shape of the roll. The upper grilling plate6is essentially identical to the lower plate5and comprises two grilling cavities6.1,6.2, identical to the cavities5.1,5.2, and forming the upper halves of the mould for toasting and calibrating the outer shape of the roll. The lower plate5has, unlike the top plate6, a protruded edge5.3,5.3´on the sides in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cavities5.1,5.2, which ensures the exact positioning of the upper grilling plate6so that the lower and upper halves of the mould creates a complete mould with exactly a circular cross-section (see device cross-section in). In another embodiment the edges5.3,5.3´may be missing. In the lower wall of the grilling plate5(opposite to the cavities5.1,5.2) there are recesses5.4bearing the heating elements (resistance coil). The grilling plate5may be manufactured as one piece or composed of several parts.
[0056] The upper grilling plate6has a smaller width, i.e. it is adapted so that its side walls fit between the edges5.3,5.3´of the lower grilling plate5. In another embodiment, where the lower plate5is without the edges5.3,5.3´,the width of the upper grilling plate6is identical to the width of the lower grilling plate5. The upper grilling plate6comprises a cover6.4() on the side opposite the grilling cavities6.1,6.2. The cover6.4serves to safely cover the wiring in the upper plate6. In the upper wall of the grilling plate6(opposite to the cavities6.1,6.2) there are recesses6.3(see), in which heating elements (resistance coils) are placed. The grilling plate6can be made as one piece or composed of several parts. The upper plate6comprises in each side wall two mounting holes13and14(see Fig. 2), which serve to attach the upper plate6to the arms9,9´of the frame2by means of connecting links15,15´and16,16´. The upper grilling plate6is fixed to the arms9,9´so that after folding into the closed position, the upper grilling cavities6.1,6.2exactly match with the lower grilling cavities5.1,5.2and thus create closed mould with a proximal hemispherical end and an open distal end. The moulds created by the first pair of cavities5.1a6.1and the second pair of cavities5.2a6.2are identical in this embodiment.
[0057] The mould (see Fig. 2) for toasting and calibrating the outer shape of the roll is created by the upper grilling plate6making contact with the lower grilling plate5, the inside of the mould has the shape of a hollow cylinder with longitudinally grooved inner walls (for toasting and calibrating the "body" of the roll) at one end closed with a hemispherical surface (for toasting the foot of the roll) which is smooth. The advantageous shape of the grooves in the walls of the grilling cavities5.1,5.2,6.1,6.2is a semi-circular wavy shape describing a circle as shown in Fig. 2.
[0058] Dimensionally, the mould is adapted to a roll that comes from the bakery with a length of 150 to 160 mm and a diameter of 46 mm to 58 mm, usually 50 mm to 55 mm. Each cavity5.1,5.2,6.1,6.2therefore has the shape of half a mould, i.e. half a cylinder with half a hemispherical surface. The diameter of the cylindrical cavity is 48 mm (measured for the bottom of the grooves); the depth of the groove is 2 mm, so the diameter measured for the tops is 44 mm. The length of the mould is 194 mm; the radius of the hemispherical surface is 24 mm. Both the lower grilling plate5and the upper grilling plate6is heated by a resistance spiral with an input of 1300 W, which maintains the temperature of the mould, or the surface of cavities5.1,5.2,6.1,6.2at 250 °C.
[0059] The frame2lifts with the help of the handle10from the closed position (see) to the open position (see). Each arm9,9´is provided with a fixing protrusion9.1,9.1´, which, when reaching the open position, engages the stopping plate17,17´, which defines the open position of the grill, which allows the insertion of a roll. The fixing protrusion9.1,9.1´and the stopping plate17,17´, create a flexible latch to increase the operational safety of the grill, when the latch locks the open position of the frame2, so it cannot automatically fold into the closed position and a certain force needs to be overcome to fold it into the closed position.
[0060] The central member3(see) comprises a carrier3.1, on which the toasting spikes11,12are firmly mounted. The carrier3.1has the shape of a prism, where from the front wall3.2the toasting spikes11,12protrude. The toasting spike11has the shape of a cylinder terminated at the proximal end with a shallow tip11.1, in the form of a conical surface. Closer to the distal end of the spike11there is a short transitional conical section11.2bounded distally by a ring stop11.3. The toasting spike11toasts and calibrates the cavity inside the roll. The conical section11.2creates an enlarged mouth of the cavity in the roll (facilitates filling) and the stop11.3serves as a stop when inserting the roll through the cavity onto the spike and to define the depth of the cavity in the roll. The diameter of the toasting spike is 25 mm, the length (from the top of the cone of the tip11.1to the edge of the stop11.3) is 125 mm, which are the dimensions adapted to the roll, which is delivered from the bakery with a cavity of approximately 21 mm in diameter and approximately 115 mm deep. The second toasting spike12in this embodiment is identical to the spike11; the same applies to it as was stated for the spike11. In one embodiment, the toasting spikes11,12are heated by heating cartridges with an input of 250 W, which provide the surface temperature of the spikes11,12of approximately 250 °C. In another embodiment, the toasting spikes11,12are without their heating elements and the heating of the toasting spikes11,12is ensured only by the radiant heat produced by the grilling plates5,6.
[0061] The carrier3.1is mounted on the shaft8between the supports7,7´and fixed so that if the frame2is in a closed position, the spikes11,12lie horizontally with the longitudinal axis exactly in the longitudinal axis of the mould created by the cavities5.1,5.2,6.1,6.2, and if the frame2is in an open position, the spikes11,12reach into the space between the lower plate5and the upper plate6at an angle of approximately 45° relative to the front-rear edge of the base housing4 / lower grilling plate5. The carrier3.1has a hook-shaped synchronizing protrusion3.4protruding from the rear wall3.3of the carrier3.1so that the protrusion3.4comes into contact with the edge of the upper plate6when opening the grill and causes rotation of the carrier3.1with the spikes11,12. When lifting the frame2, the protrusion3.4gets into a contact with the edge of the upper grilling plate6in the position when the arms9,9´forms an angle of approximately 45° with the upper front-rear edge of the housing4, and synchronously with further lifting of the frame2the spikes11,12start lifting from the closed horizontal position to the inclined open position (which corresponds to the open position of the frame2), when the longitudinal axis of the spikes11,12forms an angle of approximately 45° with the upper front-rear edge of the housing4.
[0062] The shaft8can be one single shaft passing through the supports7,7´and the carrier3.1, or it can be replaced by two or more shorter sub-shafts separately for the right support7and the left support7´. In an alternative embodiment (), a pre-tensioned torsion spring8.1is mounted on the shaft8, the spring8.1being connected to the shaft8by means of a screw or pin and helping in opening the upper frame2and rotating the central member3.List of reference numerals
[0063] 1 … stand (of the grill)
[0064] 2 … upper frame (of the grill)
[0065] 3 … central member (of the grill)
[0066] 3.1 … carrier (of the toasting spike)
[0067] 3.2 … front wall (of the carrier)
[0068] 3.3 … upper wall (of the carrier)
[0069] 3.4 … synchronising protrusion (of the carrier)
[0070] 4 … base housing (of the stand)
[0071] 5 … lower grilling plate
[0072] 5.1, 5.2 … lower grilling cavity (in the lower grilling plate)
[0073] 5.3, 5.3´ … protruded edge (of the lower grilling plate)
[0074] 5.4 … recess for heating element (in the lower grilling plate)
[0075] 6 … upper grilling plate
[0076] 6.1, 6.2 … upper grilling cavity (in the upper grilling plate)
[0077] 6.3 … recess for heating element (in the upper grilling plate)
[0078] 6.4 … cover (of the upper grilling plate)
[0079] 7, 7´ … support
[0080] 8 … shaft
[0081] 8.1 … torsion spring
[0082] 9, 9´ … arm (of the upper frame)
[0083] 9.1, 9.1´ … fixing protrusion
[0084] 10 … handle (of the upper frame)
[0085] 11, 12 … toasting spike
[0086] 11.1 … tip (of the toasting spike)
[0087] 11.2 … conical section (of the toasting spike)
[0088] 11.3 … ring stop (of the toasting spike)
[0089] 13, 13´ … mounting hole
[0090] 14, 14´ … mounting hole
[0091] 15, 15´ … connecting link
[0092] 16, 16´ … connecting link
[0093] 17, 17´ … stopping plate
Claims
A contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavitycharacterised in thatit comprises a stand (1), an upper frame (2) and a central member (3), whereinthe stand (1) comprises a base housing (4), bearing a lower grilling plate (5), comprising at least one lower grilling cavity (5.1, 5.2), which forms a half of a mould for toasting and calibrating the outside of the roll;the upper frame (2) comprises arms (9, 9´) connected by a handle (10) and bears an upper grilling plate (6) comprising at least one upper grilling cavity (6.1, 6.2), which forms a half of a mould for toasting and calibrating the outside of the roll, and the upper frame (2) is rotatably connected with the stand (1) so that it can assume a closed position and an open position between which it can move freely, while if the frame (2) is in a closed position, the lower grilling cavity (5.1, 5.2) fits the upper grilling cavity (6.1, 6.2) and creates a complete mould for toasting and calibrating the outside of the roll;the central member (3) comprises a carrier (3.1), on which is firmly seated at least one cylindrical toasting spike (11, 12) for toasting and calibrating the cavity of the roll, and the carrier (3.1) is rotatably connected with the stand (1) and the upper frame (2) so that the toasting spike (11, 12) can take a horizontal position for toasting and an inclined position for inserting a roll;the lower grilling plate (5) and the upper grilling plate (6) comprise a heating element and optionally a temperature sensor and the base housing (4) comprises electrical components for connecting the grill and heating elements to a power source and at least one controller for controlling the heating elements.The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to claim 1characterised in thatthe upper frame (2) and the central member (3) are rotatably connected with the stand (1) so that the movement of the central member (3) is synchronized with part of the motion path of the frame (2), so that if the frame (2) is in a closed position, the toasting spike (11, 12) is in a horizontal position for toasting the cavity of the roll, where the longitudinal axis of the toasting spike (11, 12) lies in the longitudinal axis of the mould, and if the frame (2) is in an open position for inserting the roll, the carrier (3.1) is in a position where the toasting spike (11, 12) is in an inclined position in the space between the lower grilling plate (5) and the upper grilling plate (6), enabling to insert the roll by its cavity to the toasting spike (11, 12).The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to claim 1 or 2characterised in thatthe base housing (4) has at its distal end at its upper surface two vertical supports (7, 7´), through which passes a shaft (8), to which a central member (3) is fixed between the supports (7, 7´), and the frame (2) is fixed outside the supports (7, 7´) by means of arms (9, 9´), whereas the shaft (8) can be replaced by two or more shorter sub-shafts.The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to claim 3characterised in thata pre-tensioned torsion spring (8.1) is mounted on the shaft (8) by mechanical fixing, the spring (8.1) being adapted to help open the upper frame (2) and rotate the central member (3).The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to any one of claims 1 to 4characterised in thateach grilling cavity (5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2) has the shape of half a hollow cylinder closed at one end by a hemispherical surface and open at the other end.The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to any one of claims 1 to 5characterised in thatthe cylindrical wall of the grilling cavity (5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2) is provided with grooving.The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to any one of claims 1 to 6characterised in thatthe toasting spike (11, 12) has the shape of a cylinder terminated at the proximal end with a tip (11.1) formed by a conical area, wherein a short conical section (11.2) bounded distally by a ring stop (11.3) is located closer to the distal end of the spike (11, 12).The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to any one of claims 1 to 7characterised in thatthe toasting spike (11, 12) comprises a heating element.The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to any one of claims 1 to 8characterised in thatthe carrier (3.1) has a hook-shaped synchronizing protrusion (3.4) for synchronising the movement of the central member (3) with part of the motion path of the frame (2), wherein the protrusion (3.4) is located at the carrier (3.1) so that when lifting the frame (2) from a closed position to an open position the protrusion (3.4) engages the edge of the upper grilling plate (6) approximately at a half of the motion path of the frame (2) and causes rotation of the carrier (3.1) with at least one toasting spike (11, 12) so that with moving the frame (2) into an open position, the spike (11, 12) moves from the horizontal position for toasting to the inclined position for inserting the roll.The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to any one of claims 1 to 9characterised in thatat least one arm (9, 9´) is provided with a fixing protrusion (9.1, 9.1´) and at least one support (7, 7´) is provided with a stopping plate (17, 17´), wherein the protrusion (9.1, 9.1´) and the plate (17, 17´) create a safety latch, whereas if the frame (2) is in an open position, the fixing protrusion (9.1, 9.1) engages with the stopping plate (17, 17´) and ensures an open position of the frame (2) against spontaneous movement into the closed position.The contact grill for toasting and calibrating a roll with a cavity according to any one of claims 1 to 10characterised in thatthe frame (2) is manufactured as a single unit including parts corresponding to the arms (9, 9´) and the handle (10).